In the above instance, the use of this expression is also a pun since my plan literally “fell in the water” or was “watered down” by rain… And since water is the reason I am still at my computer after work, I thought I would share a couple of other related expressions: Lire la suite →

My translation class is over, I am all moved in, and things seem to start getting back to “normal” (at least for me… It is my husband’s birthday today but he won’t have any time to celebrate since he has until Monday to prepare 5 summer classes in 4 days…). I am anxiously awaiting our departure to France next week, it will be so wonderful to spend time with family and friends (and have a break from the daily interpreting calls/ drama)! Lire la suite →

Although it may seem that this blog has been forgotten or the author disappeared, I wanted to let you know that I am still here! The appropriate expression for my life right now is “When it rains, it pours”. Lire la suite →

“Mademoiselle” is singing the blues. Mademoiselle has the blues. Mademoiselle has disappeared forever, at least from all official forms issued by the State in France. The removal of a supposedly discriminating title has caused quite some reactions in France, mainly against it. Lire la suite →

As Vincent would say in Pulp Fiction: “It’s the little differences…”. Indeed, it is the hints of an accent, a usage that is off, like using a British term in the USA, the wrong preposition, not quite the right term; it is the little things, which unveil your non-native state.Lire la suite →

In the middle of a customer service call I was interpreting, I stumbled on the expression my Québécois caller used to express her anger: « Mais vous êtes bien capoté, Monsieur! ». I interpreted on the spot as “Are you crazy?” and then when I heard my American caller say: “What did you say?”… I realized I should probably have come out of my interpreter role to explain that our caller thought he had some nerve… As usual, don’t kill the messenger, people! Lire la suite →

If you ever go to a USC (that is University of South Carolina) football game, you will find yourself screaming « Go cocks! »… Very strange at first! We brought my French sister and brother-in-law to a game a couple of years ago, and we could not stop laughing because the other side of the stadium was prompted to scream « Game », and our side had to scream « Cocks »… this lasted a whole game. So we translated with the alternative meaning of cock=rooster (so right, the other meaning…), and in French, that is: « Allez les bites! » (We wanted to text it to the big board but it did not work… I wish! I would have taken a picture!). Lire la suite →

Then it became an eclectic store with exotic-type goods, and is apparently an archaic word in English… However in French it is still very much used to describe a mess. And I vote for bringing back this term to describe American pharmacies!

Wal-Bazaar, sounds pretty good. How about Eck-bazaar? It almost sounds Arabic, I like it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the convenience of being able to walk into a “pharmacy” late at night (well, I don’t recall the last time that has happened… early in the morning is more likely), and not only pick up prescription medicine, but also buy my milk, eggs, even beer (?), chocolate, oh and grandma’s birthday card, and by the way I needed more shampoo, and while we are at it, a new toy for Fido the dog…

Source: kensingtonrx.com | A typical full-service drugstore

It is quite surprising what you can find in a “pharmacy” in the USA, which has become synonymous of “convenience store”, rather than “drug store”. In France, we have “parapharmacies” for all products produced by labs, but which are not medicinal; i.e. beauty products, cosmetics, sunscreen, organic make-up, soaps, vitamins and supplements, etc. Quite an interesting hotchpotch we have in U.S. pharmacies, especially in the country, due to the few stores available.
In my village in rural France though, we had a grocer-baker-butcher-caterer… the only store in the area, but very convenient. Certainly could qualify as « bazaar » as well.